'Fall Back' Driving Tips From AAA As Daylight Saving Time Ends In VA

VIRGINIA — The end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend gives drivers an extra hour of sleep, but can disturb sleep patterns and brings shorter daylight hours. The coming change at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, prompted AAA Mid-Atlantic to remind drivers to brace for sun glare on the Monday morning commute and for less visibility on the evening drive home.

“The end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend will bring shorter days and longer nights,” says Ragina Cooper Ali, manager of public and government affairs for AAA in Maryland and Washington, D.C. “Night driving brings challenges, so we urge motorists to slow down, increase their following distance, use headlights to make yourself more visible, and be extra cautious on the roadways.”

The time change can cause disturbed sleep patterns, and when combined with the earlier dusk and darkness during the evening commute, become a formula for drowsy driving and fatigue-related crashes — conditions many drivers may be unaware of during the time change.

Although underreported in government statistics, previous research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has estimated that 16 percent to 21 percent of all police-reported fatal vehicle crashes likely involve drowsy driving. That is because their evening commute will now take place in darkness.

Drowsy Driving Tips

• Travel at times of the day when they are normally awake.
• Avoid heavy foods.
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.

For longer trips, drivers should:

• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
• Do not underestimate the power of a quick nap. Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep — can help to keep you alert on the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nationwide, there were 684 deaths from drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2021.

Tips for Night-Time Driving

• Reduce speed and increase following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicles’ speeds and distances at night.
• Turn on headlights to see better during dawn and dusk and to be more visible to other drivers.
• Keep headlights, tail lights, signal lights, and windows (inside and out) clean.
• Have headlights properly aimed. If not properly aimed, headlights will blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
• When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
• If an oncoming vehicle doesn’t lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
• Do not drive after drinking alcohol, while fatigued, or after taking certain medicines that can cause drowsiness.

Tips for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

• Cross at intersections or corners. Do not cross in the middle of the street or between parked cars.
• Evaluate the distance and speed of oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. Remember, during inclement weather, a vehicle needs extra time and distance to stop.
• Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking or biking near traffic at night. Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
• Bicycle lights are a ‘must have’ item for safe night riding, especially during the winter months when it gets dark earlier.
• Do not let umbrellas or jacket hoods block your view of approaching traffic.
• Avoid listening to music or use only one earbud so you can hear danger approaching.